hammerdrum
Revolutionizing Horizontal Drilling with Fluidic Hammer Technology
HammerDrum delivers faster, more efficient, and cost-effective HDD drilling — unlocking hard rock projects with up to 200% higher penetration speed and seamless integration into existing rigs.
Ausgründung aus dem
Unternehmensprofil
Bau & Immobilien
#Infrastructure
#Geothermal
#Oil & Gas
#Mining
Gründung:
29.04.2022
Geschäftszweck: Provision of innovative drilling technologies for applications in tunneling, special civil engineering, and geothermal energy
Unternehmenssitz: Zug, Switzerland
Kontakt: oliver.rau@hammerdrum.rocks
Gründer:
Duarte Santos
Oliver Rau
https://www.hammerdrum.rocks
Problem
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is critical for modern infrastructure, enabling trenchless installation of pipelines, cables, and utilities. But in hard rock or mixed soils, performance drops drastically: drilling speed slows by up to 90%, tool wear skyrockets, and fluid consumption increases. Contractors face major financial risks because projects are priced per meter — every slowdown erodes margin. Existing solutions, like mud motors and pneumatic hammers, were adapted from oil & gas and are not purpose-built for HDD.
Lösung
Fraunhofer IEG & HammerDrum have developed a groundbreaking fluidic hammer system designed specifically for HDD. Unlike pneumatic hammers, it runs on standard drilling fluids such as bentonite, ensuring borehole stability and environmental compatibility. Unlike mud motors, it delivers percussive energy that increases drilling speed by up to 200% while reducing fluid and pump requirements. The system integrates seamlessly with existing rigs — no modifications or costly equipment are needed. Contractors benefit from faster, more predictable drilling in hard rock and mixed soils, lowering project risk and improving profitability. A borehole that normally takes two weeks can be completed in just two days, creating a step-change in HDD performance.
Produkt
Our patented Fluidic Hammer is a compact, wear-resistant, fluid-driven tool built for reliability in harsh conditions. Its innovative design eliminates moving mechanical parts in the hammer mechanism, using fluid dynamics (Coandă effect) to generate powerful percussive energy. Field tests in granite achieved penetration rates of 15 meters/hour versus 3 meters/hour with mud motors. The hammer is rentable for CHF 800/day, offering contractors low entry barriers and attractive ROI. With a manufacturing cost below CHF 20,000 and a 3-year lifecycle, each unit delivers exceptional return on assets (>200% annually). Scalable across HDD, tunneling, and civil engineering markets, the HammerDrum system is positioned as a disruptive technology in a multi-billion-dollar drilling industry.
Alleinstellung
An industry survey highlighted three main USPs:High Performance & Speed: Exceptional drilling progress allows shorter timelines and higher on-site productivity.
Technology Innovation & Differentiation: A hybrid system combining mud motor and air hammer benefits, running fully on drilling fluid. This eliminates compressors and enables use where conventional systems fail.
Cost Efficiency: Significant savings through reduced auxiliary equipment and simpler logistics. With no compressors and improved fluid-driven energy transfer, it excels in long boreholes with less torque loss. The hammer integrates with existing rigs, avoiding extra equipment and streamlining operations.
Geschäftsmodell
HammerDrum rents its proprietary fluidic hammers to HDD contractors at CHF 800/day via regional distribution partners. With unit costs below CHF 20,000 and utilization of just 50% (130 days/year), each hammer generates CHF 104,000 in annual revenue and CHF 65,000 in gross profit. Payback is under 50 days, delivering a 3-year ROA of 842%. Partners handle logistics, service, and customer support, earning a 10% commission. This capital-light, recurring rental model ensures rapid scalability, predictable revenues, and strong margins, with optional expansion into direct sales and licensing once adoption is established.Traction / Highlights
- HammerDrum has achieved TRL 6–7 with validated prototypes tested at Fraunhofer IEG, proving 5x penetration speed in granite versus mud motors. The company has secured €150k non-dilutive funding and an exclusive licensing path with Fraunhofer Ventures. Five contractors (Schenk AG, Huber Leitungsbau, Marty Bauleistungen, Brunschwiler, RPS Bohr AG) signed LOIs, including willingness to pay for pilots starting in 2026. Distribution is secured with DWL Baumaschinen AG, Ditch Witch’s Swiss dealer, ensuring immediate market access.
Kunde / Markt
Our first customers are small and medium-sized HDD contractors that rely on rentals due to limited capex, making them early adopters. Five pilot customers in Switzerland and Germany have signed LOIs, committing to test the technology in 2026 projects. Large contractors that are operating across Europe, represent long-term buyers once the technology is proven. Regional sales and service partners ensure market coverage, access to established customer bases, and fast adoption in the DACH region before expanding across Europe and into the U.S.
Team
Duarte Santos (Co-Founder, Tech Lead): MSc Aerospace Engineering (ETH Zürich, University of Lisbon), ex-iRobot, CERN, and Aeris Health. Deep expertise in advanced simulation and hardware development.Oliver Rau (Co-Founder, Biz Lead): MSc Business Strategy (UCD), ex-Digitec Galaxus. Experienced in supply chain, category management, and business development. Venture Leader Cleantech 2024, organizer of Startup Nights.
Supported by Fraunhofer IEG’s drilling experts, DWL Baumaschinen’s distribution leadership, and advisors from ABB Ventures. Together, the team combines world-class engineering with proven commercialization and ecosystem leadership.
Roadmap
Q4 2025 — Final validation tests at Fraunhofer IEG test site (performance, durability and mud-operation validation).Q1 2026 — Paid pilot program: deploy prototypes with 5 LOI partners (Schenk AG, Huber, Marty, Brunschwiler, RPS); gather field data, KPIs and testimonials.
Q2–Q3 2026 — Iterate design from pilot feedback, finalize supply chain, produce initial fleet (3–15 units), implement rental logistics/booking tool and service processes.
Q4 2026 — Complete industrialization, sign/confirm Fraunhofer licensing, onboard core ops & sales team.
Q1 2027 — Commercial launch at BAUMAG Lucerne; hammers distributed across DACH via DWL network.
2027+ — Scale production, expand Europe → US, and broaden applications (tunneling, piling, civil infra).
Break Ground With Us
HammerDrum AG is raising CHF 1.5 million at a CHF 6 million pre-money valuation (20% equity). The funds will secure 18–24 months of runway to:
- Finalize validation at Fraunhofer (Q4 2025)
- Execute paid pilots with 5 contractors (Q1 2026)
- Industrialize production & expand fleet (2026)
- Launch commercially at BAUMAG 2027
- Achieve the first million in sales
This round enables us to achieve market readiness, establish recurring revenues, and position HammerDrum as the category leader in HDD drilling tools. We are seeking strategic investors and partners who bring not only capital, but also industry access and operational expertise.
👉 Join us to revolutionize HDD and capture a CHF 350m market opportunity with unmatched unit economics.
- Finalize validation at Fraunhofer (Q4 2025)
- Execute paid pilots with 5 contractors (Q1 2026)
- Industrialize production & expand fleet (2026)
- Launch commercially at BAUMAG 2027
- Achieve the first million in sales
This round enables us to achieve market readiness, establish recurring revenues, and position HammerDrum as the category leader in HDD drilling tools. We are seeking strategic investors and partners who bring not only capital, but also industry access and operational expertise.
👉 Join us to revolutionize HDD and capture a CHF 350m market opportunity with unmatched unit economics.